According to the World Health Organization and the Global Asthma Network, 300 million people worldwide are affected by asthma, and this number is increasing.
In this article, the causes, symptoms, and suggestions for living a better life despite this disease are given.
What is asthma?
Asthma is a respiratory disease in which breathing difficulties can be experienced and the affected person’s chest is affected.
This disease is caused by inflammation and contraction of the muscles around the airways. There is no definitive cure for this disease, but it can be controlled.
Dr. Badruddin says that apart from difficulty breathing, the affected person may complain of a dry cough and chest tightness.
According to him, the symptoms of this disease and their severity can change with time. It usually bothers me more at night or early in the morning.
Why does asthma get worse?
Many factors can aggravate asthma symptoms. Genetic factors or allergies combined with external factors can increase the severity of this disease. In addition, smoke can also increase respiratory distress.
Tobacco smoke is particularly harmful because it contains substances that increase inflammation in the airways and can aggravate asthma. Pollen, dust, and certain fragrances can also trigger asthma exacerbations.
Asthma and Climate Change:
People who suffer from asthma are also more affected by climate or environmental change.
Human lungs are directly affected by the outside world, and any kind of change affects them.
Experts say asthma is exacerbated by changing environments, such as increased outdoor pollen or traffic smoke, pollution, fires, heat waves, storms, or dust. Apart from this, the increase in humidity in the air can also aggravate asthma.
Dr. Badruddin says that respiratory tracts are very sensitive, and any external change affects the inner cell layer, thus causing the respiratory tracts to contract or cough in response.
People with asthma are more likely to have
This disease can occur at any age, but it is more common in young people. One of the reasons for this is genetic factors; however, the chances of passing the disease from parents to children are not always present.
Although it is difficult to say which people are more likely to develop the disease, some people are more likely to develop asthma.
These include people who are born prematurely, or children who have more respiratory problems and diseases; people who are obese; people who are exposed to pollution or smoke for a long time; and people who suffer from allergies.
Dr. Badruddin says that children who have more viral infections are more likely to develop asthma. But this is not the case with high blood pressure, which has a high consumption of salt and hypertensive products.
Asthma treatment:
The thing to remember is that treating asthma is a precaution that starts with educating the patient. The patient should be told to avoid smoking and frequent smoky places, as they aggravate asthma.
Also, avoid using products that irritate the respiratory tract, such as paint or cleaning products.
Asthma patients are given corticosteroids to reduce inflammation of the airways.
Asthma is a chronic inflammation of the airways, which means primary treatment and regular monitoring are essential, says Dr. Badruddin. The most basic point is to educate the patient.
According to experts, the patient should be informed about the disease and should be told why and how the disease worsens.
Dr. Badruddin says that there is latent asthma, which does not show up all the time and is more symptom-free than normal. However, such individuals should also undergo regular check-ups and tests to determine asthma treatment as needed.
Can a person with asthma play?
People affected by this disease can participate in sports activities. Sports strengthen the muscles and also reduce mental stress in people suffering from asthma.
Dr. Badruddin says that sports are a part of therapy. There are champions who have asthma but take care of it.
“Also, asthma medications are not considered performance enhancers.”
Swimming, cycling, and brisk walking are beneficial activities for asthmatics. However, running in the cold can aggravate asthma. If necessary, the patient should warm up before running and use a bronchodilator 10 to 15 minutes before running.
However, experts say that asthma patients should limit any type of physical exercise based on age and breathing capacity and consult medical experts first.
Can asthma be fatal?
Dr. Badruddin says that asthma may seem harmless, but a severe attack can lead to the death of the patient.
Severe asthma attacks can suddenly land the patient in the hospital.
Dr. Badruddin says that most people stop taking medicine without consulting medical professionals, and the chances of this happening to them are high.
Dr. Badruddin says that a type of asthma that occurs in the elderly can also be life-threatening, in which it is said that they died of asthma, but in reality it is due to something else, the symptoms of which are not present. Similar to asthma.
It should be noted that if asthma is not taken care of, it can lead to symptoms that are difficult to control and can be life-threatening. During an acute attack, the airways may constrict to such an extent that the patient may become reactive and unable to breathe.
It is more likely to happen to children, the elderly, and people with respiratory infections.
How do I live a better life with asthma?
Living with asthma is challenging, but not impossible. It is important to make certain rules a part of life.
A healthy lifestyle that includes regular treatment and the avoidance of factors that cause exacerbations can help control asthma.